Revs snap skid, pummel Sidney Ponson

Chuck Jeroloman landed in the infield dirt, the ball in his glove, and one quick flip to the second-base bag started a ninth-inning double play. He would say later he thought Liu Rodriguez's turn was better than his stop, but the play was indicative of how the York Revolution played all game.

It was the type of afternoon where everyone in the red jerseys took a turn making the big play.

York snapped its four-game losing streak at home during a rare morning start, blasting Long Island starter and former Baltimore Orioles ace Sidney Ponson, 7-2, in front of 3,739 at Sovereign Bank Stadium.

The win allowed York (13-14) to avoid a four-game sweep against the Ducks (14-12), and it at least quieted some of the concerns involving York's inability to hit, field and close out leads.

Still rubbing his chest in the locker room after his diving stop in the ninth, Jeroloman didn't make any excuses for his team's play earlier in the week.

"It's early (in the season), but it shouldn't be happening," Jeroloman said. "Seemed like we were finding ways to lose games. We're too good to be playing the way we've been (playing) for the last four or five games. We are a better club than that.

"It just came together today."

Ponson (3-3) entered the day tied for second in the league in victories, but he looked like a shell of himself. Granted a 250-pound shell (official weight reported by the Ducks), but nothing like the fireballing prospect who signed out of Aruba. He allowed seven runs on nine hits.

Advertisement

He didn't strike out a batter.

York manager Andy Etchebarren shook up the lineup, moving Val Majewski to the No. 2 spot and Jose Herrera to the cleanup role. The move paid some dividends. Herrera hit his fourth homer. Scott Grimes (3-for-5) and John Pachot (3-for-4) paced the lineup, and Jeroloman drove in a pair of runs with two doubles.

"When things aren't clicking you don't want to let it snowball, and I think it kind of did," Majewski said about the Revs recent losing streak. "Maybe it was just a case of being too worn out to let our minds get in the way today. I saw guys taking easy swings, relaxing."

Etchebarren added a bit of fire to the game early, getting tossed by first-base umpire Dan Merzel after the first batter reached base in the second inning. He argued briefly with Merzel after a pickoff play at first in which Jesus Sanchez (3-1) appeared to catch Brendan Monaghan leaning. Monaghan reached base on an infield hit, after Rodriguez made a grab running away from first and flipped to Jeroloman for a relay throw to first. But Merzel ruled Monaghan safe.

"The guy was out twice. That was enough for me," Etchebarren said. "He was out running down the line, then he was out on a pickoff. That was enough for me."

After the Revs scored seven runs during the first three innings, Sanchez took care of the rest. He coasted for six innings. He did not surrender a run on five hits. He struck out five and walked three, and he looked in control at all times. He threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 26 batters he faced.

And Etchebarren seems confident if he can fix the bullpen, the Revs will be in good shape.

"I like the demeanor of this team," the manager said. "It's a really good bunch of guys. They really want to win. I'm telling you. They want to win."

Notes: The Revs remain off to the best start in franchise history. York held a .500 record on May 19, the latest date any team in the franchise's history posted a .500 mark in the first half. . . . Biglerville's Nate Starner continues to struggle. The lefty allowed two runs on six hits in 12/3 innings. . . . Pachot is now batting .455 (5-for-11) in three games as a catcher with York. . . . The Revs improved to 2-5 against Long Island this season. . . . York leadoff man Scott Grimes ranks second in the league in on-base percentage; he entered the day with a .442 mark. . . . York improved to 7-10 at home. The Revs are 6-4 on the road. . . . The Revs open a three-game series in Bridgeport tonight, the Revs won't return home until May 28 against Lancaster. jseip@ydr.com; 771-2025

NEW YORK (AP) — Chrissie Hynde will tell the story of her life, with all its ups and downs. Penguin Random House announced Tuesday that the Pretenders singer was working on an "an incredibly frank" memoir that will come out Sept. Full Story